Space band



April 26', 1927.

J. M. LOBIT SPACE. BAND Filed Feb e, 1926 Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPACE Application filed February This invention relates to spacebands such as are used in line-casting machines and particularly in those types of line-casting machines generally known as linotype and 1ntertype machines.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a spaceband which will reduce the amount of hand spacing and the number of short lines that must be recast and which will permit of a large range of justification.

Another object is to provide a spaceband embodying in its construction a minimum number of separable parts and in which the short wedge or stationary member may be removed by an operator from the long wedge or pendant by a simple operation and without the necessity of using tools, whereby cleaning of the spaceband and the substitution of either a short wedge or a pendant for a broken or worn corresponding part is facilitated.

Another object is to provide a spaceband which will automatically tend to relieve itself from the compact relation existing during a justifying operation, during which the short wedge and portions of the pendant immediately adjacent the short wedge are subject to compressional pressure, so that the pendant will be free to move downwardly in respect to the short wedge without delay as soon as the compressional pressure is removed.

Another object is to provide a reversible spaceband adapted to have either of its edges confronting the mould, one edge being suitable, if desired, for use in producing elevations or leaders in slugs, all leaders in a single slug or series of slugs produced by a plurality of spacebands describlng a straight line comprising a plurality of leaders.

Other objects consist of certain novel features of construction which will appear in the appended claims and be disclosed hereafter in the specification and drawings 1n which:

Fig. 1 is a general view in elevation of a spaceband.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the spaceband shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the spaceband shown in Fig. 1 on line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a general perspective view of the pendant or long wedge of a modified form of spaceband.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a screw which BAND.

6, 1926. Serial No. 86,488.

serves to hold the legs of the pendant or long wedge in operative relation.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a form of short wedge showing a leader notch in one edge.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of a spaceband showing the relation of the legs of the pendant and the short wedge when each side of the short wedge is in contact with its respective adjacent leg of the spaceband pendant.

Fig. 8 illustrates the general appearance of a series of leaders on a slug when a series of spacebands have been used with their notch edges toward a slug.

The spaceband comprising the subjectmatter of this invention is made up of two primary members: a small wedge which maintains its position relative to the height of a matrix and which, therefore, may be referred to as being stationary; and a pendant or long wedge which is designed'to be raised and moved relatively to the short wedge and matrices during a justifying operation.

The spaceband pendant or long wedge is formed preferably from a single piece of material so that the two legs or side pieces 10 and 11 will be connected together by a strip 12 which is integral to each leg. Each leg 10 and 11 is tapered or bevelled so that its upper end is of a narrower width than the width of its lower end, and the depth of the legs of the pendant is uniform throughout and corresponds to standard requirements. The legs of the pendant and the strip connecting them are made of resilient material and the tendency of the legs, when not restrained, is to open to a position similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4.

I have illustrated two forms of means or clasps for holding the legs of the pendant in operable relation, one form is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the other form is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The first form referred to comprises a pin'13 secured in one of the legs 11 and which extends therefrom toward the other leg. This pin may be finished so as to snugly engage a hole 14: in leg 10. The frictional relation existing between the pin and the sides of the hole 14 prevents the two legs 10 and 11 from spreading apart, but such construction permits the operator to easily pry the connection apart. In order to prevent the lower ends of the legs from being jammed together too tightly during a justifying operation, a small washer 15 is mounted upon pin 13. This washer serves as a spacer, and when pressure is relieved from the spaceband after a justifying operation the legs of the pendant will be immediately relieved from any temporary distortion and will assume a normal position such as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The modified form of clasp illustrated in Figs. 4: and 5 comprises a screw 16 which passes through a smooth hole 17 in leg 11 and engages within a tapped hole 18 in leg 10. The normal adjustment of the screw is such that the legs will be allowed to be spaced apart sufiiciently to allow relative movement of the pendantand the short wedge 18 at any position of the pendant in respect to the short wedge. ole 17 is countersunk and the head of the screw 16 will always be below the plane of the outside surface of leg. 11. In this form of clasp no washer or spacer is provided for determining a minimum distance of spacing between the legs and 11 and the resilient character of the pendant legs 10, 11 and strip 12 is relied upon for separating the sides of the legs from contacting relation with the short wedge when lateral pressure is relieved.

The general form of the short wedge 18 is illustrated in Fig. 6. The depth of the short wedge is equal to that of the legs of the pendant with the exception of the usual ears 19 and 20 at its upper end, Fig. 1. Edgewise, the short wedge is tapered with its upper end wider than its lower end so that when the legs ofthe pendant are pressed into contacting relation with the sides of the short wedge, the over-all width of the legs and the short wedge is equal at any two points within the length of the short wedge as is clearly illustrated in the enlarged view, Fig.7. W'hen the pendant is in a higher position than that illustrated in Fig. 7 the matrices on each side will be spaced at a greater distance, and likewise, when the pendant is in a lower position than that illustrated in Fig. 7, the matrices on each side will be spaced at a closer distance. Whatever the position of the pendant be in respect to the short wedge and matrices, the outer surfaces of the legs will be parallel when a line of matrices is justified.

The short wedge 18 has extending from one side thereof a lug 21 having parallel edges 22, 23 square to the surface of the small wedge. This lug may be integral with the small wedge as shown in Fig. 3 or it may comprise a separate piece of material affixed to the small wedge by any suitable means of fastening such as rivets, Fig. 6. The lug is so designed that its parallel edges 22 and 23 contact the parallel sides 24 and 25 of the elongated slot 26 in either one or the other of legs 10'and 11, the surface of the lug not extending beyond the outer surface of a leg. The path of travel of the pendant in respect to the small wedge is limited only by the length of slot 26. It is obvious that as long as the lower ends of the legs are held together, the small wedge will be retained between the legs, but that the wedge may be removed from such position, by either bow ing apart the legs at a central point, or, by separating the lower ends of the legs. This latter method may be carried out, in one embodiment, Figs. 2 and 3 by disengaging pin 13 from hole 14, and, in the other embodiment, Figs. i and 5, by removing screw 16.

The spaceb a-nd is symmetrical in design so that either one of its edges may be faced toward a mould. This design-makes it possible to have each spaceband capable of producing elevation'or leader in aslug. This elevation or le'aderin'ay be producedby placing a groove 27 in one edge of the small wedge. hen an operator desires to make a plurality of leaders, such as may be required iii-certain tabul'ating work, hen'ee'd only reverse a number of spaceband s so th'at their grooves 27 face toward the mould. An assembly of a plurality of successive spacebands will cause a series of leaders to be cast on a slug with all'of the leaders disposed "in a straight line at a predetermined distance from the line of feet of the letters or numerals in the line, as shown in Fig. '8.

While I have fully disclosed preferred embodiments of my invention I do not wish to restrict myself unessenti-a lly in any par ticular for I contemplate alterations and modifications within the scope of the 2ppended claims.

I claim:

I. A spaceband comprising, in combination, a resilient member folded in the middle so as to form two legs, each of said legs being ta ered from its free end to its folded end, a wedge, and means for 'restrainingsa id free ends from their normal tendency to spread apart from one another.

2. A spaceband comprising, in combination, a pendant having two tapered legs, connecting means for maintaining the ends '-of said legs in spaced relation, a wedge inter mediate said legs, a slot in one-0 f said legs, and a lug "on i said wedge whereby said wedge ismaintained intermediate said legs.

3. A spaceband comprising, in combination, a pendant consisting of a single member folded in the middle so as to form two legs, each of said legs being tapered from its free end to its folded end and one of said legs being provided with a slot, clasping means at the free ends of said legs for maintaining the free ends in operative relation, a wedge intermediate said legs, and a lug extending from said wedge and engaging the edges of said slot.

1. A spaceband comprising, in combination, a pendant having two tapered legs, connections at each end of the pendant, a slot in one of said legs, a wedge, and a lug on said wedge having square and parallel edges extending from said Wedge and adapted to contact the parallel edges of said slot.

5. A spaceband comprising, in combination, a pendant having two legs secured together at their upper ends at a predetermined distance apart, the legs possessing a tendency to remain apart from one another at their lower ends, means near the lower ends of said legs for maintaining said lower ends in operative relation, and a wedge intermediate said legs.

6. A spaceband comprising, in combination, a pendant having two resilient legs integrally connected at their upper ends, the lower ends of said legs normally tending to be disposed at a relatively greater distance apart than said upper ends, a wedge intermediate said legs, and means for holding said lower ends of said legs in operative relation in opposition to their normal tendency to be disposed at a relatively greater distance apart.

7. A spaceband comprising, in combinahaving two wedge shaped legs permanently.

connected together at one end of the pendant and biased away from each other, clasping means at the other end of the pendant for preventing said legs from exceeding a predetermined separated relation, and a wedge intermediate said legs having a lug for slidably engaging the sides of an elongated slot in one of said legs, said wedge being removable from said pendant but for the relation of said legs as maintained bysaid clasping means.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which the clasping means is manipulatable to permit spreading of the legs of the pendant from their operable relation so as to remove the wedge from the pendant.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

JEAN MARTIAL LOBIT. 

